Discussion - Public Safety v. Individual Rights
Overview:
In the wake of the global pandemic and it's ongoing presence in lives of Americans, we are faced with a recurring debate that balance two concepts, the legal right to mandate masks & vaccines vs. the individual rights of Americans. The strategy to beat the virus that has resulted in the lives of over 998,095Links to an external site. lost. Americans have drifted into the political and social domains, apart from the public health domain. We are going to focus this discussion to address both the legal right to mandate actions for public health and the ethical dilemma that this action poses. As we appraoch the second half of 2022, many americans are exhaustedLinks to an external site. with the pandemic, as more americans get "the jab"Links to an external site.. We will avoid conjecture (the expression of opinion, as stated fact) and be respectful of the positions presented and references made.
Instructions:
- Review both articles below, that discuss the origins of case law that addresses the governments ability to mandate vaccines for public health.
- What are the key findings from Jacobson v. Massachusetts
- Identify one additional case listed in the Harvard Law Review that further established the precedent.
- What are the ethical dilemmas faced in the two cases you summarize.
- Contextualize your findings with the legal, social, and policital events surrounding Covid-19.
- Describe the most compelling perspectives on either side of this debate.
- Individual Rights versus the Public's Health - 100 Years after Jacobson v. MassachusettsLinks to an external site.
- Harvard Law ReviewLinks to an external site.
Please post your initial response by 23:59 EST Wednesday of Week 1, and comment on the posts of two classmates by 23:59 EST Sunday.
Submission Instructions:
Each initial response must be at least 300 words, demonstrate course-related knowledge (integration of the course textbook). The initial response is due by 11:59 pm EST, Wednesday of the assigned week.